Arkansas Tech senior center Torrence Wright has been named as one of seven candidates from Super Region Two for the 2009 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, which is presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

The Gene Upshaw Award, which is in its sixth year of existence this season, is given annually to the top lineman, either offensive or defensive, in Division II Football each year. It is named in honor of the late Gene Upshaw, former Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association. Upshaw passed away on August 20, 2008.

Upshaw, who was a standout lineman at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), was a six-time All-Pro during his 16-year career with the Oakland Raiders of the NFL and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1987.

Wright was one of four Gulf South Conference players named as a candidate from Super Region Two for this year's Upshaw Award. Joining Wright as a candidate this season are North Alabama senior defensive lineman Montrell Craft, Harding senior defensive lineman Keenan Kitchen and Southern Arkansas junior defensive lineman Cedric Thornton.

Among the criteria for the Upshaw Award are: 1.) the candidate must be a junior or senior in athletic eligibility and competed in at least 70 percent of the team's regular season games; must play at one of the following positions  offensive linemen: tackles, guards, centers (tight ends are ineligible) and defensive linemen: ends, tackles, nose guards/tackles; must be in good academic standing; the player must be All-America or All-Region caliber and schools can only nominate one per institution (regardless of position).

Wright was a candidate last season and earns his repeat candidacy this season after starting in all 10 regular season games for the Wonder Boys. Wright, a two-time first-team all-GSC selection, has helped anchor a Tech offensive line that has allowed just seven sacks all season and helped Tech's offense set single-season records in scoring, touchdowns, total yards and passing yards. Wright has recorded 46 knockdown blocks and finished the regular season with an average grade of 85 and has graded out at 80 percent or better in all of Tech's 11 games.

The top two candidates from each of the four Super Regions will advance on to the national ballot on Nov. 25 and the winner of this year's Upshaw Award will be at the second-annual Valero Cactus Bowl Game in Kingsville, Texas, in January, 2010. The actual presentation ceremony for this year's award will take place in May 2010 at the Manheim Touchdown Club Banquet in Lancaster, Pa.

Wright and the No. 21 Wonder Boys (9-2) are set to return to action on Saturday when they travel to Florence, Ala., to face Super Region Two top-seed and fifth-ranked North Alabama (10-1) in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. in Braly Municipal Stadium.